About Jennifer Brower
My name is Jennifer Brower. I live in Naperville, IL with my daughter & my cat Mr Peabody. I am a Project Management Professional (PMP). I’ve worked in IT for 20+ years.
I finished my Masters in 2007 in Information Systems Management and passed the PMP exam in 2008. In August 2009, I finished a second Masters in Project Management. I was a programmer for about 15 yrs but have since moved into Business Analysis and Project Management. Sometimes I want to just go become an architect — or beachcomber. Fun huh?
I love coffee, cats, parakeets, quilting, writing awful poetry, playing my violin (badly), golf and a multitude of other stuff. I LOVE OWLS! I am always doing something different. Sometimes, the curiosity gets the better of me.
My new project is independent publishing so I am starting a company called Parakeet Street Publishing. I hope to finally get in print all of the short stories I have been writing.
I knew that if I ever wanted to succeed I would have to be well educated. In school, I had to work three times as hard as everyone else. (Big secret: I’m ADHD & dyslexic.) I learned a lot and eventually graduated in the top ten of my class. In 1982, I started learning BASIC and DOS computer languages. They seem so primitive today! Later, I started studying French, German, & Dutch — moving on to languages with different alphabets like Russian, Japanese, and Hebrew. I went to Tinley Park High School and liked languages (obviously), math, computers, and science. I belonged to the Speech Team, Drama Club, French and German Clubs, Mathletes, and National Honors Society. During my Senior year, I visited Washington, DC as a Congressional Scholar and graduated in the top ten of my class.
During my teen years, I was active in Oak Forest Rainbow Girls. I served 4 times as the local chapter president. I also served as Past Grand Representative of Georgia in Illinois 1989-1990, was a Grand Hostess in 1989, and a member of the Grand Choir in 1987. From 1991-1993, I was the Assembly Scrapbook Chairman and served as Parliamentarian. I am currently a member of Oak Forest’s Advisory Board and the Webmaster.
Toward the end of my Rainbow years, I went to Moraine Valley Community College on a full scholarship. I got my AS in Accounting/Business Technology. During my campaign for Student Senate Treasurer, I made my first infamous campaign speech. It’s a hoot to watch now! I was elected Student Senate Treasurer and was active in many student groups. After having fun at Moraine & my Senate going away party, they made me leave to get my BS degree. So, I got my BS in Marketing/Sales emphasis from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL.
Many years later, I decided to go to Keller Graduate School of Management to earn my Masters of Information Systems Management with an emphasis in Project Management. I finished that degree in 2007 and then completed a Masters in Project Management in 2009. I have been a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) since May of 2008. I have a BS degree in Marketing from Northern Illinois University and speak French and German fluently. I have been active in Rainbow Girls, a community service organization, since 1985. 
I have 20 yrs experience in the IT industry as a Programmer and Project Manager. Other hobbies include self publishing and writing fiction, politics/community activism, and media production. I enjoy working to defeat anti-semitism. I have been active as an officer in the College Politics at Northern Illinois University as well. I also like to write and have self-published two poetry books.